Device for handling cartons and the like



Oct. 15, 1940. c w DAV|5 DEVICE FOR HANDLING CARTONS AND THE LIKE Original Filed June 20, 1938 INVENTOR.

Patented a. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES- PATENT erries DEVICE FOR 2,217,731 HANDLINGCARTONS AND THE LIKE,

Claude W; Davis, Los'Angeles, Calif.

Application June 20, 1938, Serial No. 214,683 1 Renewed April 26, 1941i 1 5 Claims. (01. 294-27) My invention relatesto lifting devices or tongs, and more particularly to devices for lifting, carrying and otherwise handling any article which presents a thin wall, which wall of itself, or through imposed load, reacts so that its effective center of gravity is offset or angular to the direction at which the force is applied. This applies tolifting of cartons, cans, tanks, boxes and other con tainers as well as to any article or material in While the-invention is not limited thereto, is

an object to provide a lifting device particularly l5 for lifting, carryingsand otherwise handling paper cartons containing wholesale quantities of ice 'cream.. .I am aware that devices are known.

for handling cartons of this type, either with or without the cover removed, but I consider prior devices'objectionable and unsafe in that they depend either upon engaging a prominent flange or,

upon piercing the paper .to such extent that the load, is supported solely 'by the margins of the perforationsmade in the paper. Z While the present invention'takes advantage wherever possible of a flange, beading or the like to aid' the device in its action, and While I'd-o not go so'far as to say that I can safely lift and transport a paper carton of appreciable Weight by frictional grip alone, I have sought to provide for lifting cream-filled paper cartons by combin:

ing the advantages of, prior devices and eliminating the disadv'antagesthereof.

A particular object of my invention is to provide 'for engaging, lifting and carrying acreamfilled paper-walled container without depending upon either -a' flange or perforations, but rather by combining slight penetration of the paper,

slight engagement between the device and the beading or rim of the container, and friction,respectively to insure the ideal lifting and holding depending on tomsurface or a protruding flange of a container. Modernice-cream. jcontainers donot have thatwhichmay be termed a flange, but

they do have a thin metal 'beading'around the upper edge. much purchase for prior devices, it is an object of my invention to take advantage of such'beadine to assist thel'device, but my invention does not depend upon lifting ,or supporting a carton solely through such media; I

,As before mentioned, they invention does not limit itself to cartons of this class or to'a'specific thickness or strength of material, and 'itis another object of the invention to provide a device embodying and combining the advantages of several of the priordevices in such manner that the device acts selectively to employ to best advantage the action oractions best suited to the particular condition.

With respect to ice-cream containers, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for lifting v and carrying same without removal of. the cover thereof and even, when repeatedly acted upon by the device,'the container ,willnot develop a leak. and thereby taint or damage the contents of the container..

' Other objects and advantages of my invention Will appear hereinafter and will be better un- While such beading, does not offer 5 derstood byreason of the order in which they Figure 1 of the drawing shows in vertical section an embodiment suited particularly for lifting paper cartons of the class described, although it embodies the more salientifeat-ure of the invention and in corresponding proportions is likewise adapted to a variety of other uses.

Figure 2 of the drawing is a cross section thereof seen on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. V

Figure 3 is a small scale view'inside elevation of modification embodying means for lifting a single carton as well as means for simultaneously lifting a pair of cartons.

Figure 4 is a detail showing of the pad for engaging the outside of the container.

The device shown in Figure 1, in common with devices of the prior art, consists mainly of the handle or grip 5 extending inwardly from other parts of the device in a generally horizontalplane; this handle being .bent at 6 substantially right-angular and continuing downwardly to ter-- minate in spaced extensions 1 and 8 respectively; one extension being longer thanthe other.

The extension 1 isrelatively short and is known I hereinafter as the abutment and is adapted to contact the inner surface 9 of the carton wall It], or to similarly contact the corresponding surface of any other wall.

Extension 8, while paralleling extension I, is spaced therefrom a distance considerably in excess of the thickness of a container wall to provide between itself and extension 1 the clearance space indicated at H. An appreciable distance below the lower termination of extension 1 the second named extension turns inwardly as at 12 and terminates in an arcuate contact pad Hi.

This contact pad provides one of the salient features of the invention and is of increased width with respect to the extension 8, of which it is substantially an integral part. The contour of this arcuate contact pad, in the particular embodiment being described, is such as to conform closely to the outer circumference of the carton wall in, and its circumferential extent with respect to the carton wall shall be such as to cause it to perform as hereinafter described.

It is a peculiarity of this contact pad that its inner surface l5 centrally is practically in vertical alignment with the inner surface l6 of extension 1 so that when the abutment l is in coextensive contact with the inner surface of the container wall the contact pad is in similar coextensive contact with the outer surface of the container wall. I This relative disposition of surfaces, shown particularly in Figure 1, indicates that when the extensions are in vertical position with the device in operative or lifting position, the engaged wall of the container is also truly vertical.

These respective positions of correlated parts take advantage of the center of gravity of a suspended container so that when the usual lifting force is applied to the handle 5 the containertakes on a normal vertical position which insures against ready dislodgment of the container during motions arising when a person is walking while carrying a container with this device. As is demonstrated by a person raising an opentop container vertically with the aid of the thumb and a finger, this device will, with no means other than friction of the surfaces l5 and "5 respectively, at corresponding surfaces of the container wall, act to suspend a container, but in order to do so effectively it is essential that the point of frictional contact at the other surface of the carton be definitely located only at a point well below where the inner frictional contact takes place. Hence the purpose of off-setting extension 8 with respect to extension I. This offset not only confines frictional contact of the outer extension to the contact pad I4, but it also provides the clearance space H which is particularly essential where I employ the instrumentalities about to be described.

One of these consists of a one-way clutching and piercing element l8 carried at the inner surface of the contact pad and a short blunt pin I9 carried by and projecting slightly from the inner surface of abutment I. Since these projections overlap each other when considered in the vertical plane, it is apparent that the device cannot be placed in operative position over the carton wall, or as readily removed, without there being the clearance space H between them to permit of the device being properly inclined or cocked when being set over, or when being removed from, the carton wall.

The short blunt pin l9 need only be capable of engaging the thin lower margin of the thinmetal rim or beading 20 found on ice-cream cartons and the like, and where the device is used for lifting other articles I find that the same short, blunt, small-diameter pin I9, is all that is needed to set up a very decided frictional hold on a corresponding surface without damage thereto.

The one-way clutching and piercing element 3 is here shown as being a larger diameter pin or the like which has been cut or machined at its protruding end to an inclined surface 2| thereat, extending downwardly-inwardly toward the inner surface of the contact pad. This surface characteristic of the pin provides that the pad may be moved downwardly over a surface, such as the outer surface of the carton wall, in slight frictional contact therewith without tearing or engaging same although when moved upwardly in frictional contact therewith it will tend to engage or bite into the material of which the wall is made. It is not intended that this sharpend pin shall act to perforate entirely through the container wall and as we shall learn hereinafter, the contact pad co-operates therewith in such manner that complete penetration of the wall by the sharp pin is neither essential or normally possible, nor does the device depend upon the carton being supported entirely by this sharp-end pin. The various elements of the device have been described without mention of the actual material used in constructing the device and it is apparent to those skilled in the mechanical arts that a single forging, casting, or the like, will serve. It is, however, an object of the invention to adapt'the device to mass production at low cost while providing a decidedly rugged or longlived instrument. It will be understood that those persons employing a device of this kind are prone to use it either thoughtlessly or deliberately as an all-purpose tool 'for chipping, hammering, prying, and the like. Also it is essential that the device be so constructed as to offer clean, smooth surfaces adapting it to initial plating and subsequent sterilizing required of all dairy equipment. In the embodiment shown, so-called fiat-convex strap iron stock is used and beginning with the extension 1, this stock continues to form the lower half of the handle 5, then turns .over upon itself in an open loop 22, and then back to form the upper half of the handle and continuing to form the extension 8. Although the pad I4 is described as being a substantially integral part of the extension 8,

, being enlarged and so angled at the larger end of the loop as to afford a firm grip and thus to prevent the device slipping from the hand of a person carrying a carton thereby; it being understood that in use the handle is more apt to be moist than dry, and in particular, when the device is in use in handling ice cream cartons.

Using the device to first engage a paper carton, particularly one filled with ice cream and having the cover in place, the device is applied by passing the contact pad downwardly along the outer side of the upper part of the carton wall until the sharpened end Ta of extension 1 comes in contact with the cover. This movement of the device downwardly with respect to the carton is continued forciblyso that the extension 1 breaks through the cover of'the papercarton, if it be so covered, and disposesthe short blunt pin l 9 just below the lower and iriner edge of the beading 20. Meanwhile, the pin I8 on the contact pad has been passing freely over thecorresponding outer surface of the carton. Now the device is lifted naturally so that the extensions take on a vertical position which causes the carton wall to become wedged between the ends of the pins l8 and [9 respectively. In some instances, the pin l8 will at once bite into the Wall of the carton and prevent relative upward movement of the device with respect to the carton. In other instances it may slip slightly, allowing the device to be raised without the carton until the short blunt pin l9 shall have engaged the beading. Again the motion of the device, without forethought on the part of the user, may be such that the pins frictionally engage respective surfaces equally and simultaneously so as to lock the device to the carton wall. In any event, by one reaction or another, the act of raising the device vertically causes the offset weight of the carton to react through the abutment member to move the carton wall forcibly against the pin it! carried by the contact pad. I have found a single central pin to be most effective since when the wall is forced against this pin it will, in the case of a paper carton, deform and depress in the vicinity of the pin and allow the contact pad to abut non-deformed areas surrounding the pin and thus prevent the pin from penetrating the paper unduly, if at all. As soon as the pad isin such position it holds the device and handle properly aligned with the carton so that the handle proper assumes a position truly diametric of the carton. At the same time the pad has a co-eflicient of friction now manifest to an extent to materially assist in carrying the load and relieving the pin I8.

To accurately account for the relative lifting and clamping effect of the pins and friction surfaces is indeed difficult and for any type of carton or other vertical wall to be engaged it is difiicult to predetermine which of the several features will be most effective and which can be dispensed with, but I do know that in some instances one pin can be dispensed with, and in other cases both can be dispensed with, while in the case of paper ice-cream containers the trade demands all of the features herein shown. However, I may say, that with the proper clearance space at H, and with the surfaces of the pad l4 and of the abutment I, treated according to requirements to provide the required friction or bite, the invention is applicable to many and varied acts ranging from the relatively light task of lifting filled paper cartons, to lifting, (with device of proper size) huge tanks, or the like, and for engaging any wall where forces angularly to the direction of lift.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 embodies the salient features of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, and in the drawings corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment a single piece 24 of flat bar stock is bent centrally at 25 to provide two handles, 26 and 27 respectively; one right angular to the other and by turning the device accordingly, either may be placed in vertical operative position. At the extreme end of extension 25 is riveted a single contact pad such as 14 while at the extreme end of extension 2'! two such pads are riveted in opposed position. In proper relation to the contact pad on extension 26 is secured a strip 28 of metal formed to provide at one end a corresponding abutment such as 1' and this strip continues contiguously of the corresponding surface of the bent member 24 toward another of the pads and is there formed to provide a corresponding abutment member. The abutment member for co-operation with the third contact pad is at the end of another piece of metal 29 attached contiguously of that surface of member 2 1 which is opposed to the surface at which strip 28 is secured. This strip 29 continues along such surface to the bend 25 where it curves in the opposite direction to form a finger purchase 36 to assist the operator in carrying the load when the opposed pair of contact pads are being used. Obviously this last described embodiment provides three sets of lifting and carrying instrumentalities, two of which can be used simultaneously for carrying a pair of cartons.

Now I have found that the combination of the arcuate pad M, its inner friction surface l5 and its peculiarly pointed pin l8, provides a gripping action which differs materially from that of two spaced conically pointed pins such as found in prior devices. It seemsthat this new type of single central pin in thecenter of a large contact pad doesnotrmake a form of penetration which gives rise to leaks or tearing and that actually before it penetrates appreciably it tends to make a conical depression shown at 3! in the drawings and allows the surface 55 of pad M to come into frictional engagement or abutment with the carton surface surrounding the depression 3!. This produces a peculiarly effective type of engagement which resists very appreciable loads with less destructive action on the surface of the carton at the point of contact, and it is to be remembered that with the surface l5 of the pad [4 vertically aligned with the inner surface. of abutment 1 proper application of the device to a carton wall is only possible by providing the clearance space ll.

While in the foregoing I have been specific as to constructions, arrangements of parts, and applications of the invention, such are only by way of example and do not act to limit the invention to specific constructions, arrangements and uses respectively; the invention being of a broader scope as shown by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, that which I claim as new and patentable is:

1. In a lifting device for engagement with a vertical wall, the combination of a pair of spaced approximately parallel vertical members of unequal length providing a clearance space between them having a width greater than the corresponding dimension of said wall and each presenting to said space a corresponding abutment surface disposed each in substantially the same vertical plane as the other, and pins, one for and carried by each member projecting normally thereof from the corresponding abutment surface, one of said pins being short and blunt and the other being longer and pointed.

2. In a lifting device for engagement with a vertical wall, the combination of a pair of spaced approximately parallel vertical members of unequal length providing a clearance space between them having a width greater than thecorresponding dimension of said wall and each presenting to said space a corresponding abutment surface disposed each in substantially the same vertical plane as the other, and pins, one for and carried by each member projecting normally thereof from the corresponding abutment surface, one of said pins being short and blunt and the other being longer and having a downwardly-inwardly inclined surface terminating in a penetrating nonconical point.

3. In a lifting device for engagement with a vertical wall, the combination of a pair of spaced, approximately parallel vertical members of unequal length providing a clearance space between them of a width greater than the corresponding dimension of such wall; the shorter member presenting to said space an abutment surface for coextensive frictional contact with one surface of such wall; the longer member adapted to extend in spaced, non-contacting, parallel relationship to the other surface of such wall to a point well be-' low the termination of the shorter member; said longer member there turning inwardly of said space and presenting a relatively large area contact surface adapted to frictionally contact corresponding parts of the outer surface of said wall simultaneously with frictional contact of the upper inner surface of said wall by said shorter member, and a pin carried by the longer member projecting normally from said contact surface, and cooperating therewith to frictionally engage said wall without complete penetration thereof.

4. In a lifting device for engagement with a vertical wall, the combination of a pair of spaced, approximately parallel vertical members of unequal length providing a clearance space between them of a width greater than the corresponding dimension of such wall; the shorter member presenting to said space an abutment surface for co-extensive frictional contact with one surface of such wall; the longer member adapted to extend in spaced non-contacting, parallel relationship to the other surface of such wall to a point well below the termination of the shorter member; said longer member there turning inwardly of said space and presenting a relatively large area contact surface adapted to frictionally contact corresponding parts of the outer surface of said wall simultaneously with frictional contact of the upper inner surface of said wall by said shorter member, and a blunt or flattened pin carried by the shorter member to engage any adjacent projection on said wall.

5. A device of the class described comprising a length of flat-surface bar stock beginning with a vertical abutment, thence rising vertically an added distance, then turning at approximately right'angle thereto to form a lower handle extent, then bending over upon itself to form a large open loop, then continuing approximately parallel of the lower handle extent to form an upper approximately horizontal upper handle extent, then bending to continue vertically downwardly parallel to that portion rising vertically from said abutment, then bowed away from said abutment and continuing vertically downward in spaced parallel relationship to said abutment to provide a wide clearance space therebetween and continuing thus well below said abutment and there bowing inwardly again and providing thereat a relatively large area abutment surface in substantially the same vertical plane as the corresponding surface of the abutment member; and projecting pins in vertical alignment, one for and projecting normally from each abutment surface, that pin projecting from the large area abutment surface cooperating therewith to frictionally engage a deformable curved wall without complete penetration thereof.

CLAUDE W. DAVIS. 

